Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Ghost leaves Taiwan on Sunday May 14th, after working and studying Chinese (Mandarin) for the past 8 months.

Some thoughts, good and bad.

The good:

1. In Taiwan one is paid the salary one agrees to, and on time. No problems there.

2. The salaries are pretty good.

3. Some jobs are relatively easy and stress free, especially if teaching adults. Reduced preparation time.

4. Reasonable rent (ghost paid $8500/month for a nice 3 bedroom apartment in Ching Shuey, Taichung County, this comes to about $270 U.S. a month).

5. Very cheap food in most locations, and you can eat well for about 50NT especially in University Cafeterias, etc, and other locations. 50NT is about $1.50 U.S. so food prices are still at the 'third world level.'

6. Basically kind and inoffensive people, who will not harm you or seek trouble. But boring (see later comments).

7. Safe place with very little theft or street crime. Ghost 'forgot' many things in the Library and cafeterias, but would always find them again, even hours later. People do not steal here. Many bikes are left unlocked.
At Providence University most of the lockers have no locks, and the contents are untouched.....

The bad

1. Most High school jobs are crap. You will be teaching bored, brain dead adolescents who spend most of the time sleeping in class, or who are completely 'out of it and unmotivated.'

2. Most of the 'Buxibans' have (in one's opinion) a rather silly methodology, with insistence on just 'cramming' as much info. (English vocab and small sentences) into the students, with little regard for timing and basic understanding on the part of the students. If you try to slow the pace down, the Buxiban owners will not be pleased, and you may lose your job (as was the case with ghost).

3. If one does not have a firm contract, the hours worked with adults in the Language schools are often fairly low (3 hours here and there) making it difficult to garner a decent salary.

4. Teaching adults can be good or hell, depending on the students. In some cases the adults (usually middle aged women) will smile at you in class, but then go to the owner and complain about you behind your back. It is difficult to decode their thoughts in class, leaving you with nasty surprises at times.

5. Frequent low level of 'general knowledge' in adult classes, making it difficult to talk about topics, because the recipients (the students) have little or no knowledge about many things.

6. Dangerous travelling for teachers (foreign) who use bikes and scooters. Ghost was one of the few bike riders (non motor) in the Taichung area, and was usually relegated to the extreme right 'white line' due to the horrendous scooter riding habits of most scooter riders, especially young men in the 18-30 age group, and those guys who rode scooters with cigarettes dangling from their mouths, and others who rode with others on their scooters.

7. Polluted, boring uninspiring environment, in the cities. Concrete jungles with very few redeeming features. Lack of green space, for ghost, who likes to jog and run.

8. Difficulty in making meaningful contacts in Taiwan. Let's face it most Taiwanese are not interested in foreigners. Not to say they are mean or nasty to us - but just that they are indifferent to us, and that is almost worse, because we simply do not count for them, as if we do not exist.

9. Not a dynamic culture. Ghost has lived and worked in Europe, the Americas (including South) the Caribbean, Turkey, etc....and Taiwan is by far the most boring place so far encountered. The most apathetic people as well (especially males in the 15-30 age group).

These are ghost's points of view, and they are shared by quite a few others.

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

Ghost was here for 8 months; I've been here for 8 years. I agree with everything that he posted.

On the good side, I actually enjoy teaching well-behaved elementary school students--especially 4th to 6th graders.

Avoid most junior high and high school students at all costs! They will bring you down. Some are great, but this would be only 2 or 3 out of 100 students.

I'd be happy to give further comments, if anyone is interested.

Taylor
Kaohsiung

rain406 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 12

Well, Taiwan sounds like a lively place. Rolling Eyes

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

There can be a lot to agree with there, especially the traffic, but a lot of things depend on your situation. I am in a great school now where I am paid the agreed amount but had a lot of difficulty with my first boss here who ended up stealing a lot of money from me.

It also doesn't have to be boring. Though if you are stuck in a small one horse town you probably won't have much choice with this one.

It is very crime free with the big exception of bikes. I had my bike stolen and it was locked up. But again, I am in Taipei. Providence University looks like a happy exception.

Thanks for your thoughts Ghost. But why are you leaving after 8 months? Oh right, difference of oppion with the buxiban owners. Yes, buxibans here are businesses first, schools a distant second.

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

So he's giving up the ghost, as it were. Well, don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

jonks · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 1240

I'm in agreement with Ghost.

watingfortomorrow · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 7 Location: North America

I have been reading the threads here for a couple months. Ive also been looking at the other major forums. The question I have for everyone is WHY BOTHER? It seems that everyone hates everything about the country, the people, the job... it seems lately that all I've read is people saying that it is boring, uninteresting, there is no culture and they would be somewhere else if it wasnt for the fact that Taipei can be alot of fun. So I started looking at Korea.... people there also have a very similar attitude.

Searching and reading blogs is the other side of the coin. People who write blogs speak of how wonderful and friendly the people are, how teaching has been a positive experience, the oppurtunity to travel and many other reasons they would repeat their whole experience over and over again.

Why bother? Why bother keeping up with the forums here? When was the last time someone posted positive comments. Took five minutes to tell everyone about great experiences, instead of two minutes to talk about all the negative ones.

If anyone who reads this would be so kind to say one positve thing, please do so. If not, Ill make sure not to let the door hit me on my out.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear waitingfortomorrow,

Uhhhh....did you miss the first seven points made by the original poster? He made seven positive points right there!

Remember the 80/20 principle....80% of the problems & negative comments come from 20% of the teachers here.

Sincerely,

Taylor

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 1:32 am Post subject:

In my experience, Taiwan is what you make of it.

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

Welshguy · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 143

Poor Welshguy was stuck in Taiwan for a good while with only the Taiwanese and passing Canadians to talk to, aah memories.
W

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

I have found find Taiwan (and Taipei), a fascinating place. For me, it is full of interest. I understand that it would not be found interesting by people who want to see Western culture everywhere they go, and by people who aren't interested in learning about other cultures.

The personal attitudes of Taiwanese do not make this place any less interesting to me.

I found this comment interesting: